Lint free spindle drive belt

ABSTRACT

A drive belt for use on a yarn spinning frame or the like, and which is adapted to run substantially lint free. The belt comprises interwoven cotton and nylon yarns, with at least several of the yarns including an electrically conductive component in either continuous or staple filament form blended therewith to facilitate discharge of static electricity. Also, a cured resin substantially fills the interstices of the woven material to prevent lint or yarn fly from lodging therein.

is] 3,683,712 [451 Aug. 15, 1972 3,542,633 Goldsmith ............74/23lS X [541 LINT FREE SPINDLE DRIVE BELT [72] Inventor: Nicholas W.Schiffli, Charlotte, NC. [73] Assignee: Barber Manufacturing Company,

Primary Examiner-Leonard H. Gerin Attorney--Parrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park& Gibson Charlotte, NC.

22 Filed: March 2,1971 ABSTRACT A drive belt for use on a yarn spinningframe or the like, and which is adapted to run substantially lint g antinufree. The belt comprises interwoven cotton and nylon yarns, with atleast several of the yarns includin electrically conductive component ineither con ous or staple filament form blended therewith to facilitatedischarge of static electricity. Also, a cured resin substantially fillsthe intenstices of the woven material to prevent lint or yarn fly fromlod therein.

14 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 7W7 SS 3 111 1 1 33 W26 QR Ed 44 SmR mm 1"u 3 3 .8 mm fl W r m J 1 T m mm m A mm. nu P. M" "4 S 30 E mmm m T Him1 mmm mm ww .m s 0 wmh e D 13 u mm R E .H m H NH m N 65 N m U m. SPWM 5P .m 1 A UmF MM 1]] 1 l .l 2118 6 23 R HUN U 2 2 Patented Aug. 15, 1972RECEIVING- LINT FREE SPINDLE DRIVE BELT The present invention relates toan improved spindle drive belt of the type commonly used on yarnspinning frames and other yarn processing equipment. More particularly,the invention relates to an endless spindle drive belt which does notaccumulate lint or yarn fly during use, and which possesses substantialstrength, long life, and does not significantly stretch during use.

Endless spindle belts for use in the textile industry haveconventionally been fabricated from woven cotton tapes, although someuse has been made of synthetic materials such asnylon. In use, suchbelts extend around a driving member such as a pulley or drum roller,-with each belt then extending around the whorl of a spindle to rotatethe same at speeds up to about 25,000 rpm or higher. It is wellunderstood by those skilled in the art that the rapid flexing of thebelts at these high speeds tends to quickly wear and stretch the belts,necessitating their replacement after perhaps only a few weeksoperation.

A further problem in the use of conventional spindle belts resides inthe fact that during operation of the yarn processing machinery, lintcollects on the spindle belt and this accumulation results in variationsin the speed of spindle rotation due to slippage or loss of tractionbetween the lint coated belt and the whorls about which it passes. Suchvariations in the speed of rotation of the spindle are extremelyundesirable since it has a direct effect on the amount of twist insertedin the yarn. In addition, the lint which has accumulatedon the belt maybe thrown therefrom and contaminate the yarn by causing slubs which mustbe removed before the yarn is processed into the finished product.

The build-up of lint on the spindle belt appears to result from acombination of factors. First, it is believed that the movement of thebelt and the relative movement of its internal filaments during flexingproduces static electricity which tends to attract the small lintparticles to the belt, particularly under certain atmospheric andtemperature conditions. In addition, it is thought that the belt createsa vacuum as it moves about the spindles at high speed, with the vacuumtending to draw the lint particles into contact with the belt. Whenthese lint particles are struck by the rapidly moving belt, they tend toenter and become lodged in the interstices of the woven fabric toproduce a build-up of lint which rapidly covers the outer surface.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide aspindle belt which effectively overcomes the above noted problemsassociated with conventional belts.

It is more specific object of the present invention to provide a highstrength spindle belt having a long service life, and which is adaptedto run substantially lint free on the whorl of a yarn spinning frame orthe like.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide asubstantially non-stretching drive belt which may beinexpensivelyproduced.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention areachieved in the embodiment illustrated herein by the provision of a tapewhich includes interwoven cotton and nylon yarns, with at least severalof the yarns including an electrically conductive component blendedtherewith which is adapted to contact the spindle whorl to discharge anystatic electricity. Also, a cured resin finish substantially fills theinterstices of the woven tape to prevent the lint from collecting on thetape by entering the interstices.

Some of the objects and advantages of the invention having been stated,others will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which-- FIG. 1 is a schematicillustration of the process for treating a woven textile tape to producea spindle drive belt according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary isometric view of a portion of the drive systemfor a yarn spinning frame, and showing two pairs of spindles on oppositesides of the frame and the associated drive beltj FIG. 3 is afragmentary sectional and partially schematic view of the drive belt andspindle whorl taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentaryenlarged sectional view of the whorl and drivebelt also taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 2.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 2 aspindle drive belt 10 incorporating the features of the presentinvention. The belt 10 is shown disposed on a portion of a spinningframe which includes a pair of rails 12 extending along opposite sidesthereof for supporting the spindles l4, and a rotatable driving memberor drum 16 positioned intermediate the rails. The belt 10 passes aroundthe drum l6 and extends outwardly in one direction and around the whorls18 of one pair of spindles 14, and then across the frame above the drumand around the whorls of the opposite pair of spindles. Acounter-balanced idler roller 20 is shown positioned adjacent the drumto maintain a proper degree of tension in the belt.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the drivebelt 10 comprises a woven tape comprising cotton filling yarns 22, aplurality of nylon warp yarns 24, and four cotton warp yarns 26 spacedalong the width of the belt. The cotton warp yarns 26 include anelectrically conductive component 28 in either continuous or staplefilament form blended therein, and will be seen to have a linear density(or cross-sectional area) substantially greater than tee linear densityof the cotton filling yarns 22 or the nylon warp yarns 24. By thisarrangement, portions of the cotton warp yarns 26 will be seen to extendabovethe surface of the tape, and the electrically conductive filaments28 similarly extend above the surface of the tape as seen in FIG. 3 tofacilitate contact with an adjacent surface, such as the whorls 18, todischarge any static electricity in the belt.

As a further aspect of the tape shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, there isprovided a cured resin 30 which substantially fills the interstices ofthe material. By filling these interstices, the yarn fly is preventedfrom becoming lodged therein to produce a build-up of lint on the tapesurface. Also, it will be appreciated that the resin 30 preferably doesnot completely coat the tape surface since a coating could interferewith the desired contact of the filaments 28 with an adjacent surface.

In fabricating the belt 10, a continuous length of tape 31 is initiallywoven in a conventional weave pattern having selvage edges, such as aherringbone with a small gros grain. The tape may then be impregnatedwith a suitable resin, cured, and heat stabilized by the processillustrated schematically in FIG. 1. Specifically,

the tape 31 is initially withdrawn from a supply container 32 and passedthrough a resin bath 34. Next, the tape is passed through two pairs ofsqueeze rollers 35, 36 and 37, 38, which are operated under controlledcompression, through the infrared drying oven 39, and past the dryingblower 40. The tape, which is only partially cured and dried at thispoint, then passes through the four vertically arranged squeeze rollers41, 42, 43 and 44 which are also maintained under a controlledcompression. The rollers 4144 are driven at a constant speed by thedrive motor 46, while the rollers 35-38 are driven at a variable rate bythe motor 48 and variable speed control 49 to maintain a predeterminedtension in the tape as it passes through the drying oven. Moreparticularly, the tension in the tape is monitored by a conventionalcontrol arrangement (not shown) which acts through the speed control 49to maintain a preselected tension in the belt. After leaving the roller44, the tape 31 is directed through the oven a second time to obtaincomplete curing of the resin, and then into a suitable receivingcontainer 50. During this second pass through the oven, the tape isunder no significant tension. The tape is then adapted to be cut intosuitable lengths and fabricated into endless belts by securing the endsof the tape together by stitching, heat bonding, or other conventionalmeans.

When synthetic or polymeric warp yarns are employed in the tape, theabove procedure of curing the resin under conditions of controlledtension further serves to heat stabilize the synthetic yarns and therebyreduce the stretch in the finished belt. Typically, the tape 31 istensioned to a point which closely approaches its breaking strength asit passes through the oven 39 to accomplish this propose. Also, it isbelieved that the stretching procedure serves to slightly open theinterstices of the fabric to facilitate penetration of the resintherein.

As noted above, the rollers 35-38 and 41-44 are maintained undercontrolled compression such that the tape is squeezed therebetween andthe resin is forced inwardly into the fabric. Thus the tendency of theresin to entirely coat the outer surface of the tape is minimized.

The tape of the present invention is preferably fabricated frominterwoven cotton and nylon yarns as described above, since the nylonyarns provide the desired strength, and the cotton yarns serve toinsulate against the build up of heat in the belt during use. Spun nylonyarns have been found to be somewhat preferably to continuous nylonyarns since belts using spun nylon yarns are longer lasting and the endsthereof are somewhat easier to bond by conventional heat bondingtechniques. 1

Obviously, the electrically conductive filaments 28 of the presentinvention could be fabricated from a wide variety of materials. Forexample, a conductive metal or alloy such as stainless steel or aluminumcould be employed, or a non-metallic material such as a conductive glassor synthetic polymer could be used. For cost reasons, only a sufficientamount of the conductive filament should be employed which assures anadequate discharge of the static electricity, and in the case of fourblended warp yarns comprising cotton and stainless steel, it has beenfound that the stainless steel should comprise at least about 1 percentof the blended yarns. In addition, it will be appreciated that theconductive filaments could be positioned in the filling as well as thewarp yarns. While either continuous or staple stainless steel filamentscould be employed with the present invention, staple filaments aresomewhat preferred since they are easier to blend in the cotton spinningsystem.

The resin 30 employed with the present invention may similarly compriseany of a number of suitable polymeric materials, such as nylon orpolyurethane. Typically the resin will comprise between about 10-20percent of the total weight of the finished tape.

To describe the present invention with reference to a specific example,a inch wide continuous tape was woven in a conventional herringbonepattern with a small gros grain and with selvage edges using 20s/ 3 longstaple cotton filling yarn having 32-36 picks per inch, 48 ends of 2ls/3 spun nylon warp yarn and four ends of 8s/2 cotton warp yarn havingstaple stainless steel filaments blended therein. The cotton in the fourcotton warp yarns had staple length of 1 1/32 inch, and the stainlesssteel filaments were 8 microns in diameter and had a staple length aboutthe same as the cotton. One strand of the two ply cotton warp yarnscontained about 2 percent stainless steel, while the other strand wasall cotton. Thus the net weight of the stainless steel in these yarnswas about 1 percent thereof. The four cotton warp yarns weresubstantially evenly spaced along the width of the tape.

The above tape was impregnated in a polyurethane resin solution, formedby dissolving about 15 percent by weight of flaked polyurethane inliquid tetrahydrafuran. The tape was then squeezed between two pairs ofcompression rollers, and subjected to a tension of approximately 400pounds (which is only lightly below its breaking strength) as it waspassed through the infrared drying oven and blower. The oven wasmaintained at a temperature of approximately 550F, and the time forpassage through the oven and blower was approximately six to eightseconds. The tape was slightly tacky as it left the blower. Afterpassing through the four secondary squeeze rollers, the tape was againpassed through the oven, after which it was substantially dry to thetouch.

The above tape was cut into a suitable length, and the two ends joinedby a conventional heat bonding technique to form an endless drive belt.When used on a yarn spinning frame, the resulting belt was found to havea long useful life, it did not appreciably stretch, and it ransubstantially lint free.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation.

That which is claimed is:

1. A strong, substantially non-stretching drive belt characterized asbeing adapted to run substantially lint free on the whorl of a yarnspinning frame or the like and comprising a tape including interwovencotton and nylon yarns,

at least several of said yams including an electrically conducivecomponent blended therewith, and a cured resin substantially filling theinterstices of the tape.

2. The drive belt as defined in claim 1 wherein said nylon yarns areheat stabilized.

3. The drive belt as defined in claim 1 wherein said several yarnsincluding a conductive component are of a linear density substantiallygreater than the linear density of the remaining cotton and nylon yarnswhereby portions of the conductive component extend above the surface ofthe tape to facilitate contact with a spindle whorl or the like fordischarging static electricity.

4. The drive belt as defined in claim 1 wherein said electricallyconductive component comprises staple filaments of stainless steel.

5. The drive belt as defined in claim 1 wherein said resin comprisespolyurethane.

6. A strong, substantially non-stretching drive belt characterized asbeing adapted to run substantially lint free on the whorl of a yarnspinning frame or the like and comprising a tape comprising interwovenfilling and warp yarns, said filling yarns comprising cotton, and saidwarp yarns comprising nylon yarns and cotton yarns, said cotton warpyarns including an electrically conductive component blended therein andhaving a linear density substantially greater than the linear density ofsaid cotton filling yarns and nylon warp yarns whereby portions of saidconductive component extend above the surface of the tape to step ofheating the tape includes subjecting the same to facilitate discharge ofstatic electricity onto an adjacent surface, and a cured resinsubstantially filling the interstices of the tape to thereby preventyarn fly from collecting on the tape by entering the interstices.

7. The drive belt as defined in claim 6 wherein said conductivecomponent is stainless steel and comprises at least about 1 percent ofthe weight of said cotton warp yarns.

8. The drive belt as defined in claim 6 wherein said resin ispolyurethane.

9. The drive belt as defined in claim 6 wherein said cotton fillingyarns and said cotton warp yarns comprise long staple cotton filamentsand said nylon warp yarns comprise spun nylon filaments.

10. The process for fabricating a strong substantially non-stretchingdrive belt adapted to run substantially infrared radiation.

12. A drive belt characterized as being'adapted to run substantiallylint free on the whorl of a yarn s innin fr e or the like and com risina ta lli ll ldlng interwoven yIBIHS, at Feast several of said yarnshaving a linear density substantially greater than the linear density ofthe remaining yarns and including an electrically conductive componentblended therewith, whereby portions of the conductive component extendabove the surface of thetape to facilitate contact with a spindle whorlor the like for discharging static electricity.

13. The drive belt as defined in claim 12 wherein said tape furthercomprises a cured resin substantially filling the interstices of thetape to thereby prevent lint or the like from becoming lodged therein.

14. A drive belt characterized as being adapted to run substantiallylint free on the whorl of a yarn spinning frame or the like andcomprising a tape including interwoven cotton and polymeric yarns, atleast several of said cotton yarns having a linear density substantiallygreater than the linear density of the remaining cotton and polymericyarns and including staple filaments of stainless steel blendedtherewith, whereby portions of the stainless steel filaments extendabove the surface of the tape to facilitate contact with a spindle whorlor the like for discharging static electricity.

1. A strong, substantially non-stretching drive belt characterized asbeing adapted to run substantially lint free on the whorl of a yarnspinning frame or the like and comprising a tape including interwovencotton and nylon yarns, at least several of said yarns including anelectrically conducive component blended therewith, and a cured resinsubstantially filling the interstices of the tape.
 2. The drive belt asdefined in claim 1 wherein said nylon yarns are heat stabilized.
 3. Thedrive belt as defined in claim 1 wherein said several yarns including aconductive component are of a linear density substantially greater thanthe linear density of the remaining cotton and nylon yarns wherebyportions of the conductive component extend above the surface of thetape to facilitate contact with a spindle whorl or the like fordischarging static electricity.
 4. The drive belt as defined in claim 1wherein said electrically conductive component comprises staplefilaments of stainless steel.
 5. The drive belt as defined in claim 1wherein said resin comprises polyurethane.
 6. A strong, substantiallynon-stretching drive belt characterized as being adapted to runsubstantially lint free on the whorl of a yarn spinning frame or thelike and comprising a tape comprising interwoven filling and warp yarns,said filling yarns comprising cotton, and said warp yarns comprisingnylon yarns and cotton yarns, said cotton warp yarns including anelectrically conductive component blended therein and having a lineardensity substantially greater than the linear density of said cottonfilling yarns and nylon warp yarns whereby portions of said conductivecomponent extend above the surface of the tape to facilitate dischargeof static electricIty onto an adjacent surface, and a cured resinsubstantially filling the interstices of the tape to thereby preventyarn fly from collecting on the tape by entering the interstices.
 7. Thedrive belt as defined in claim 6 wherein said conductive component isstainless steel and comprises at least about 1 percent of the weight ofsaid cotton warp yarns.
 8. The drive belt as defined in claim 6 whereinsaid resin is polyurethane.
 9. The drive belt as defined in claim 6wherein said cotton filling yarns and said cotton warp yarns compriselong staple cotton filaments and said nylon warp yarns comprise spunnylon filaments.
 10. The process for fabricating a strong substantiallynon-stretching drive belt adapted to run substantially lint free on yarnspinning and processing machinery, comprising the steps of impregnatinga woven tape comprising cotton, nylon and electrically conductivecomponents in a resin bath, tensioning the impregnated tape to approachits breaking point, calendaring the impregnated tape while maintain-ingthe same under tension to cause the resin to thoroughly penetrate andfill the interstices of the tape, and heating the tape while maintainingthe same under tension to heat stabilize the nylon filaments and to curethe resin.
 11. The process as defined in claim 10 wherein the step ofheating the tape includes subjecting the same to infrared radiation. 12.A drive belt characterized as being adapted to run substantially lintfree on the whorl of a yarn spinning frame or the like and comprising atape including interwoven yarns, at least several of said yarns having alinear density substantially greater than the linear density of theremaining yarns and including an electrically conductive componentblended therewith, whereby portions of the conductive component extendabove the surface of the tape to facilitate contact with a spindle whorlor the like for discharging static electricity.
 13. The drive belt asdefined in claim 12 wherein said tape further comprises a cured resinsubstantially filling the interstices of the tape to thereby preventlint or the like from becoming lodged therein.
 14. A drive beltcharacterized as being adapted to run substantially lint free on thewhorl of a yarn spinning frame or the like and comprising a tapeincluding interwoven cotton and polymeric yarns, at least several ofsaid cotton yarns having a linear density substantially greater than thelinear density of the remaining cotton and polymeric yarns and includingstaple filaments of stainless steel blended therewith, whereby portionsof the stainless steel filaments extend above the surface of the tape tofacilitate contact with a spindle whorl or the like for dischargingstatic electricity.